Louisville, Ky. (WHAS11) - It's been almost a week since a New Albany doctor was indicted on charges of fraud and illegal drug distribution.
But Wednesday, he was back at work.
WHAS11 News was the only station there as Doctor Kamal Tiwari showed up at the Pain Management Center of Southern Indiana Wednesday morning.
Since the trial has not begun, the doctor still has a license to practice even as more victims are coming forward with allegations of abuse.
Dr. Kamal Tiwari didn't answer many of questions as WHAS11 caught him going back to work for the first time since he was indicted on fraud and illegal drug distribution charges.
Federal prosecutors say Dr. Tiwari gave some patients substandard or even dangerous care and ripped off taxpayers and insurance companies.
According to investigators, five of his patients died from drug overdoses.
Still, until there's a trial, the board certified doctor can go back to work. He just can't prescribe any controlled substances.
WHAS 11's Claudia Coffey asked Dr. Tiwari, "Are you happy to be heading back to work today?"
"I'm always happy to work. Work has been my mission in life. That's what I have done," said Dr. Tiwari.
Prosecutors say Dr. Tiwari forced patients to undergo painful procedures that some patients didn't need so that he could profit. That's what former patient Sherry Brown says happened to her.
"He shouldn't be practicing at all. They should take his medical license for good," said Brown, who is a former patient.
Brown saw Dr. Tiwari in 2008 for a bulging disc in her back. She says he gave her shots of a pain medication in the neck despite her telling him repeatedly to stop.
"I started screaming at him stop, stop. I don't want to do this, stop! Then the male nurse held me down and he wound up giving me seven or eight shots in my neck," said Brown.
The Indiana Attorney General's Office is also investigating, filing a complaint with the State Licensing Board accusing Dr. Tiwari of overprescribing controlled substances, giving prescriptions to known addicts and misusing syringes.
Dr. Tiwari wouldn't talk about those allegations either.
His attorney says he is confident his client will be cleared of all charges.
If convicted, Tiwari could face 10 to 20 years for each charge and up to $1 million for each count of drug distribution. His trial is set for August.
